(Indianapolis, IN) – When you are a big bodied basketball player and your name is Shaquille, the comparisons to NBA great Shaquille O’Neal are never far away. When you have a big personality and broad shoulders, the comparisons come flying in.
For Shaquille Morris, the NCAA Tournament brought even more comparisons and opportunities to show that there’s a new Shaq in town! Like his famous counterpart, Morris seems to get more praise and scrutiny than perhaps is deserved. When he’s not effective on the court, people think he’s lazy, when he’s good, they believe he’s a superstar. The reality is somewhere in between.
During the first half of Sunday’s loss to Kentucky’s future NBA lottery pick-filled roster, Morris was as good as anyone on the floor. Eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots by intermission and then a half time feature with former NBA star Grant Hill and THE SHAQ himself, was something of an unveiling for the Oklahoma native.
Big Shaq to Big Shaq. #watchus pic.twitter.com/Pvn6w43jV9
— Go Shockers (@GoShockers) March 18, 2017
For the second time in four years I spoke with the Wichita’s Shaq after a narrow, season-ending loss to Kentucky. He proved to be soft-spoken and yet confident. Strident in his belief that the Shockers will be stronger than ever, but never promoting his own personal achievements.
Morris told me one of his jobs is to be a ‘beast inside’ but also to help calm his teammates down.
During Saturday’s off-day Morris was extolling the virtues of Shocker unity, and after the loss, the junior post player reminded me that this edition of Shocker basketball is extremely close knit.
I couldn’t help but ask him about going up against all the potential ‘lottery picks’ on the Kentucky team, and noting that he more than held his own against those future millionaires. Without bravado, Shaq admitted it was a difficult challenge, but one he relished and that he was proud of how he could compete with the nationally elite players.
Morris and virtually every contributing player from this year’s 31-win team will return to the Shocker line up next season. This is perhaps the greatest collection of talent during the Gregg Marshall-era of Wichita State basketball. Morris, Zach Brown, Conner Frankamp, Rashard Kelly, Daishon Smith, Rauno Nurger and Darral Willis will be entering their senior seasons, with their two all-conference underclassmen junior Markis McDuffie, and sophomore Landry Shamet return as the headliners.
Morris and Frankamp were third team all-MVC selections. Shamet was the ‘Freshman of the Year’, Brown was named to the all-defensive team and Willis was part of the all-newcomer team.
It could be an epic season for the New Shaq and his unified mates.
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.@SEMOMBB wins at home and is 2-0, tied with @MSUEaglesMBB atop the @OVCSports. Our prayers are with the @LRTrojans after the death of one of their managers Josh Claxton. Their game with EIU was postponed today.
Good officiating in the @SEMOMBB/@SIUEMBB in a little late game dust up.
BTW, @LindenwoodWBB is 2-0. @CoachAmyEagan has that program headed the right direction.
With @SkyhawkHoops winning on the road and @LUMensBball winning at home, right now, 5 @OVCSports teams are 1-1.
